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Failing to Kill Health Care Reform, Insurers Now Fight to Weaken It |
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After spending tens of millions of dollars trying to kill the new health care reform law, the nation’s big health insurance companies now, says Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), are:
sparing no expense to weaken this new law and the protection it promises to America’s consumers.
According to a new report by the coalition Health Care for America Now (HCAN), big insurers are trying to gut proposed new rules that require they spend a certain amount of premium dollars on actual medical care, not wasteful administration, marketing or executive pay and bonuses.
The medical care cost benchmark under the Affordable Health Care for America Act is known as the medical-loss ratio (MLR). It is set at a minimum of 80 percent of premiums for individual and small employer plans and 85 percent of premiums for large employer plans. Insurers that fail to meet those MLRs must rebate the difference to enrollees.
The new MLR rules are being established by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), which is made up of insurance regulators from the states. According to the HCAN report, the America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and their member insurers:
want to redefine MLRs by pressuring the NAIC to give insurers vast discretion over what expenses they may classify as clinical and administrative costs. Already, Wellpoint Inc., the nation’s largest private health insurer by enrollment, has reclassified $500 million in administrative costs as medical expenses.
Rockefeller says the insurance industry is “furiously lobbying” the NAIC to write the new rules in a way that will:
allow them to do business as they did before the passage of health reform. The resources health insurance companies are throwing into the effort to weaken the medical loss ratio appear almost endless.
On HCAN’s The Now! Blog, HCAN Executive Director Ethan Rome writes:
The definition of “medical care” is at the core of this fight….So they want to change the definition of “medical care” to include things that aren’t medical care and that have never been considered as such. And the insurance companies are shameless in just how far they will go. They really are trying to have “underwriting,” the process by which sick people are weeded out of eligibility for coverage, defined as a medical expense! Along with claims processing, call centers and other expenses that aren’t about the actual delivery of care.
According to the report, if the new law had been on the books in 2009, the six largest for-profit health insurance companies would have been required to refund $1.9 billion for that year alone. That would have represented only a fraction of their massive profits. The top five for-profit health insurers alone recorded $12.2 billion in profits in 2009.
Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.), who helped write the medical cost requirements into the bill, says health care reform:
will bring coverage to 32 million uninsured Americans, which will bring lots of new business to private insurers. We need strong regulations for medical-loss ratios so Americans can be confident that they’re getting value for their premium dollars.
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Is anyone surprised or shocked that this is happening??
The “Health Care Reform” is what the the Health Care Industry paid Obama and the Democrats to pass, keeping “single-payer” Medicare-for-All “off the table” in the initial Senate hearings. This Obamination is “Mission Accomplished” for the gangster corporations. Under the circumstances provided by Obama and the Democrats, the corporations are simply maximizing their profit.
AFL-CIO President Trumka should be so proud! After Trumka spent millions of union dues money to get Obama and the Democraps into office, and then ignoring the unanimous vote demand of the delegates at the Pittsburgh convention in support of “single-payer” Medicare for all, Trumka worked against the system that would of completely cut these gangsters out of the health care delivery system.
Under Obama and the Democrats we have seen the “bailout” of Wall Street gangsters costing trillions of dollarsm, the auto industry was collapsed and thousands of auto worker impoverished, the “Cap and Trade” scheme to market “pollution credits” without shutting down profitable polluters,
unending ecological disasters, expansion of wars for profit as the slaughter of innocents continues, the public school system is being destroyed, millions of workers and their families become unemployed and impoverished.
To hold up the rightly despised anti-labor Republican Party for ridicule, but then embrace the corporate controlled Democrats and Obama is an insane game that must end now! The corporations and wealthy individuals are all laughing their way to the bank.
Isn’t there anyone in the organized labor movement demanding a break with both Republican and Democratic parties?
I agree with you brother!!! I wish we could get away from both parties. I wish we had the money and resources to form a labor party!!!
The organized labor movement, with 11 million dues paying members, has both the money and resources! The AFL-CIO gave tens of millions to the Democrats in 2008 and mobilized thousands of man-hours in “getting out the vote” for the Democrats. A terrible waste!
There are now millions of unemployed working people looking for leadership, an organization, to fight for their economic needs of all working people. Many thousands of well-educated union members, school teachers, parents, health care workers, unemployed workers could be united under a common platform to run for office at every level of local, state, and federal government.
The time to start organizing a new party is now! By the time of the 2012 election, we the people could be ready to run our candidate for President, Congress, State and local governments and win!
From the millions of working people
I think we should all be considering abandoning the democratic and the republican parties. I believe it was Mark Twain who said, if I may paraphrase here, that congress is the only elected criminal class in America.
Let me suggest that you all subscribe to The Hightower Lowdown, a four page newsletter, published by Public Intelligence, Inc, and edited by Jim Hightower and Phillip Frazer. It costs $15 a year. Subscribe by calling 866-271-4900 or write to The Hightower Lowdown, P.O. Box 20596, New York, NY 10011.
I am suggesting this because in his latest issue (Volume 12 Number 6 June, 2010) he is promoting the idea of creating and participating in the rebirth of the Populist Party which, in the1880s, pushed women’s sufferage, wage protections, an eight-hour work day, direct election of U.S. senators by the people, elimination of poll taxes and literacy tests for voting, graduated income tax and a whole host of other people oriented achievements including, but not limited to, the outlawing of the corporate mercenaries of the Pinkterton company that busted unions for the corporate criminals.
We will have to take our government back as it will not be given back to us voluntarily. And when we get it back, we must see to it that the coporate, the wealthy, and the political criminals are held accountable for their acts of treason and crimes. Writing special interest laws to shield you from the consequences of your criminal acts does not absolve you of your obligation to walk amongst us as honorable and moral men and women. You are predators who prey on the innocent and the honorable and you have earned your forthcoming punishment. Let me also add that we stop putting lawyers in postitions of power and remember this when you go to the polls: Never Re-Elect! Spread the Graft!
APWU member
We have this problem because Democrats believe just as much as Republicans that wealthy thieves and their private corporations should decide who gets care, and what kind of care, and how much it costs, based on what will bring the greatest profit to their greedy executive boards, not human need. The Supreme Court, packed with extreme right-wingers which Democrats voted for, such as Thomas and Alito, has decreed that money is free speech, and, thanks to their friends, the Democrats and Republicans, it seems that private ‘health’ insurance thieves have a hell of a lot more free speech than we, the victims do. The only thing they seek to insure is their own astronomical profits. This is the price you pay for this phoney reform – demobilization and confusion, followed by demoralization while nothing changes.
We must be very clear – what we need, and eventually will have to build, is a LABOR PARTY, not a ‘people’s’ or populist party, which would try to pretend that there is not a one-sided class war facing workers today. We have had many third-party movements which have died out, because they were basically controlled by business interests who sought to pressure the government for certain reforms and then revert to their normal two parties once they got what they wanted. A Labor Party would be something completely different and would open the door for a new day in America when work and workers will be valued as the source of all wealth that they are.
The PPACA has many fundamental flaws that will keep the wall-street traded insurance corps in control of American’s access to health care.
Instead of continuing to try and sell this legislation the labor leaders acoss the spectrum need to advance the drive for a comprehensive universally accessable health care system. To do otherwise is to surender to the corporations who’ll contiue to starve working Americans of health care.
The ” Obamacare” fiasco is going to hurt us all if it does legally help the mighty insurane companes. It needs to be trimmed down and revised,but the “PEPUBLICLOWNS ” ( this is directed to the commentor, JerryWells ) decided to go into filibuster mode and just stop the wheels of progress. They should have surgically cut out any non specific articles or phrases to make it right.
This country is in a fix and everybody knows it. The last 12 years have showm the people how much damage the corporate controlled government can do. We are slaves to their ” funny money. pork barrel legislation, incompetence, greed and avarice “. They treat us like brainless cattle while they pimp for the corporate support. We have to get the power lobby corporations out of our Congress,Presidecy and the Supreme Court.
President Obama has made some bad mistakes and I’m plenty pissed off about the way he is becoming a dictatror and OUR Congress is so used to being “dash dogs” they can’t even see it. It is true that JOLLY GEORGIE left them an awful mess, but a good share of the same Congressmen have been through it and helped create the problems. I don’t who would have done a better job after the 8 year FIASCO of King BUSH. He brought us to our knees and said,”you got the ball now”. I do not agree with President Obama on much,but don’t take your anger out on the wrong guy. he also had the help of Congress and the Supreme Court. From The Patriot Act to the present day Council Of Governors, down your throat health care,and The DISCLOSE Act on the Senate flooor today. The improper handling of “mega Bailouts”putting American Taxpayers in the hole to the tune of $ trillions of dollars for a dead horse! We The People are getting bent over more every day.
The only way we can stop legislation being pushed down our throats is to THROW IT BACK UP. If our government won’t clean up their act on their own then it is time for new government,By The People And For The PEOPLE. A revolution may be the only thing that can save our form of Democracy from it’s present form of De mockery of our original purposes.
It is printed clearly in our Declaration that when our government fails to serve the people then it is time and we have the right to remove it and form a better one. A handful of idiots could do a better job the self gratifying pandering,lowlife extotionists we call Congressmen. We had clear laws rules to preserve our democracy and seperation of powers. Corporate greed and the Congress go way back. The abuse of power by R.R. companies, removale of native Americans. The list is a very long one and we have inherited that legacy.
I want my border secured,YESTERDAY, 1945. I want illegal aliens deported, not abetted by my government. I want Employers of illegals thrown in prison and fined to the max. I want ENGLISH to be declared our only legal language. No more paying for instucyions written in four lanuages! I do not want PORK BARREL legislation and long-winded 40 million page bills or Acts. Why can’t we get rid of the arcaic mumbo jumbo double talk legal jargon and do all things in cotemporary Enlish. No hidden agendas and sealed records of the president or any public officia
Want BIG BRO out of your politics ; just form an election fund ,payed for by $2.00 of every taxpayers Tax debt each year.All candidates will receive their campaign money from this fund only. No personal or corporate monies or gifts. A prison sentance for both parties if any such infractions of that rule occur.
You want to staert a NEW SNAKE FARM you cut off the heads of all the snakes you do not want to breed and nurture the new ones. YES it is HOUSE cleaning time America.
As a Nation, we will continue to receive whatever sort of healthcare that we are willing to accept. I am thoroughly disappointed with the Democratic leadership in Washington. They led us to the passage of a Bill and a “fixes” Bill that continues to favor industry profits over care for the sick. The time to end age discrimination of Medicare is long overdue. Since we all pay into it; shouldn’t we all receive benefits from it? What in the HELL are we ALL doing equally paying for a service that we can not ALL equally access? It is us; who are ultimately responsible for electing such inadequate leadership.
Collectively, we can’t hold even the closest protectors of the Healthcare industry, namely Senator Blanch Lincoln, accountable (for the destruction of the public option) in a Democratic Primary; let alone a General election. As a result, we are forced to support her because the republican option she now faces in the General election represents a far greater evil. The tea-baggers, that Republicans enjoy snuggling up with, might well represent an obstacle, if we could just get past the ill informed Democratic old guard led by the likes of NAFTA champion, Bill Clinton. Had he campaigned in Penn. with the same intensity as Arkansas; I dare say that Sestak would have defeated Spector. Speaking of which; Toomey is outpacing Sestak in fundraising. As of July 13th, Toomey reported having $4.65 million on hand, while Sestak has roughly $2 million. If this keeps up, Toomey will be able to define our Candidate without Sestak being able to do very much about it.
We MUST get the mote out of our eye before we can remove the speck from any other’s. Perhaps, it’s time for someone with the name recognition of Howard Dean to lead progressives in the formation of a third Party. Name it what you will; but if the AFL-CIO, and I suppose Change-to-Win, diverted Labor’s resources currently enjoyed by the Democratic Party to say…the LABOR PARTY or the PROGRESSIVE PARTY; we could really begin to separate the wheat from the chafe. Think about how the political landscape would change if the Democratic Party could only rely upon its abundance of MODERATE activists…Ha Ha.
The Progressive activists are the only ones that give credence to the notion Labor can count that Party as friendly. Recruit the progressive activists away from the Democratic Party (which wouldn’t exactly be a chore, right now) and Labor could help mold a legitimate coalition fighting for the interests of American working families. Once again, we would become a political force to be reckoned with. The Republican Party is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Corporations. I’m tired of fighting to fleece the Corporate interests out of the Democratic Party. It‘s really not like we have left them…they have abandoned us!
For these reasons; I do not intend to seek re-election as a State Committee Member of the Democratic Party of Georgia. My support for them will simply run out when my term expires.
MET LIFE SHOULD BE CALLED MET DEATH! ALONG WITH ANY HEALTH CO. CALLED LIFE SHOULD BE CALLED DEATH! TRUTH IN ADVERTISING I SAY!
There’s a really helpful video featuring Fran Drescher (actress from “The Nanny”) and Health and Human Services Sec. Kathleen Sebelius, along with a MomsRising.org mom. They talk about health reform and prevention services in particular. Very eye-opening: http://bit.ly/SebeliusMR
I heartily agree with all the comments above. We have not seen comprehensive health care reform in any way.
As long as patient care is considered a business loss, we are ALL in trouble whether we have health care or not.
And I agree that we Progressives should leave the Democratic party in whole and sign onto whatever party represents our interests. I did in this past primary and it felt so good NOT to be voting for a Democrat.
What it takes is for union members to understand political realities. As long as the US Senate is composed of enough Republicans to block and/or filibuster Democratic legislation, we have a problem. Republican candidates must be defeated at the polls. That is the simple mathematics of the political problem. The Republican Party is the Chamber of Commerce Party and until Americans understand the difference in economic principle between the two parties, we have a problem.The Republican Party is anti-union and anti-fair wages and trade. Of course, we also have a problem with Americans who vote Republican because of silly side issues which are not related to the economic well being of the average working person, such as religion, silly tea party flag waving, guns, buying foreign products, etc. It is the economy, Stupid. Do not vote Republican!
True enough…I have previously stated the republicans are a wholly owned subsidiary of Corporate America. We all should know, by now, exactly how and why they vote the way they do.
Don’t get me wrong. I still intend to vote for Labor endorsed candidates. However; when the only viable option, for the People, is to rely upon 60 Democratic Senators and they fail to get the job done because THEY, not the republicans, -THEY- lack the stomach for it. How can we, the Labor movement, really lay fault with ourselves for not electing enough Democrats to Office? We did our part. How many idiots does it take to screw in a light bulb? Go ahead; elect 70 or even 80, you can still only count on the support of 59. They string us along, toying with us, dangling the carrot just out of reach; like management does a production bonus. Meanwhile; we keep on chasing after it, like fools. I have no intention to continue chasing the carrot.
I dare say there will ever come another period in OUR LIFETIMES when the Senate will have such a super majority of Democrats, again. Why should I continue fighting the good fight, just to help them achieve personal political successes? So I can helplessly watch as more opportunities are squandered; thus, transforming my hard work into their vanity?!? I was betrayed by the notion that the Party was the only means to address CHANGE, I COULD BELIEVE IN. This is the sort of Change, I believe, I can do without.
Don’t give me any crap about having patience, either. Since ’68, I’ve lived through 28years of republicans and not quite yet 14 years of Democrats in the White House. Over the same period, the American middle-class has nearly been driven into extinction; certainly placed on the endangered species list. Sorry, I’m fresh out of patience. I’m looking for a more reliable political tool to help me turn over to my children a better America than I was handed. The (current) Democratic Party’s leadership is a dismal failure, at best, to serve such a purpose. Woohoo for the tenacity, energy, and leadership of the fierce moderate activists within the Democratic ranks. I have every confidence in their ability to lead our once great Nation into mediocrity.
Really think this is yet another example of how lobbying reform needs to be implemented before real change that is directed by the people, for the people and of the people can come.
this kind of cheating shouldnt be a surprise, but it still surprises me.
I can see how easy if would be to just feel jaded and defeated but i just want to fight harder.
While the lobbyists and corporations are ramping up their spending we need to really galvanize and empower our own grassroots bloggers, activists and media distributors.
the time really has come that if we dont get better organized and collaborative , all of us smaller independent activists will be less effective, less visible and the corporate vampires will just declare victory.
more division among our ranks as activists only empowers and emboldens the corporate conglomerate conspiring to control us.
declaring a break with democrats isnt the answer.
increasing our voice, our effectiveness and the politicasl costs of selling out to republicans, corporations and lobbyists is our common sense path to victory
our financial power isnt in just how much we can spend, its also in how much we can discredit and dismiss their big slick expensive ad campaigns with credible , emotionally compelling, irrefutably factual and consistent messages.
anti talking points to diffuse their consensus lockstep pr assault.
we also have power in the way we control our own purse strings through strikes and boycots.
but they seem to lack commitment and organization to keep strong
we cant beat big organizations by moving to be less organized.
point is, we can be stronger by leveraging our own legions, our own passion, our own authenticity and organic humanity.
real people talkin real issues with their real friends are more persuasive than big bucks pr campaigns
Congresswoman Jan Schakowski was on Tom Hartmann the other day talking about her proposed legislation mandating a public option….That cannot come soon enough!
You guys are ignoring the inevitable truth that the only workable solution is single payer and that would be the perfect way to stick it to the insurance companies and the politicians they have bought! The dumb bastards that run those companies are stupid and arrogant enough to think we’re not informed enough to realize that it’s time we joined the rest of the industrial world. I think we know better!